Often touted as the next Justin Bieber, Heather Russell has faced plenty of pressure to perform since being signed by mega-producer Simon Cowell in 2011.
The Toronto-born youngster was only 10 when her YouTube videos caught the attention of Cowell and other music industry bigwigs. Now 12, Russell is still regularly posting video clips online, the same strategy that eventually propelled Bieber to superstardom.
Unlike Bieber, much of Russell's YouTube work is original, produced with the help of her father James. But that doesn't mean she's afraid to do a cover. Below you can see Russell cover her own song, "She Needs Love", two years after first recording it.
And here you can see the original.
While Russell's Twitter bio says she now resides in Los Angeles, it seems she still hasn't hit the big time.
Her more recent YouTube videos have fewer hits than much of her early work.
But it took Bieber two years from his first YouTube videos to his first single, so Russell is in good company. And a recent write-up from Buzzfeed on her talents probably won't hurt.
Do you think we'll be seeing Russell on stage with Stratford's most famous export in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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